Primary Bone Tumors in Children

Abstract

BONE tumors occur in children with a somewhat greater frequency than has been generally supposed, primary malignant bone tumors occurring rather more frequently in them than in adults. Except for the fact that because of the age factor a less satisfactory history can be elicited in children, there is no material difference between children and adults as regards symptomatology, physical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of bone tumors. In 16,000 admissions at the Orthopedic Hospital, 89 bone tumors have been recognized, an incidence of one in 180. To this group of cases were added 28 from the Yale Street Clinic, making a total of 117 cases. Twenty-two, or 18.6 per cent, of these were malignant tumors, while 95, or 81.4 per cent, were benign tumors, the group being divided as follows: The general incidence of bone tumors to admissions has been one tumor to 180 admissions, an incidence of approximately 0.5 per cent. There has been one malignant tumor to 888 admissions. The majority of these were ...